The House of Representatives approved the proposed P6.793 trillion national budget for 2026 on its third and final reading, with more funds allocated to government assistance programs, or ayuda, and less to infrastructure projects following the anomalous flood control mess.

Under the House’s approved General Appropriations Bill, the entire P255 billion initial proposed budget for the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) locally funded flood control projects was realigned, of which 40%, or P102 billion, was redirected to the following:

- P32.6 billion: Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS)

- P14.82 billion: Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD)

- P56 billion: Additional funding to the Philippine Science High School System, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and State Universities and Colleges

Based on GMA Integrated News Research data, at least three ayuda programs saw an increase of more than 80% from the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to the General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

Among the three ayuda programs, DSWD’s Protective Program for Individuals and Families in Especially Difficult Circumstances got the largest increase, with over P32 billion.

From P27 billion in the NEP, DSWD’s Protective Program got P59 billion in the GAB, or a 118.6% increase. AICS is one of the assistance programs under the Protective Program.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health’s (DOH) Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially-Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) obtained P49.2 billion in the GAB.

This translates to a 103%, or almost P25 billion, increase from the P24.2 billion proposed budget in the NEP.

W